Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1887-07-29
PATRONS OF mUsBANDRY.
MORTIMER WHITEHEAD.

MORTIMER WHITEHEAD.
LOCALIZED robbery amounting to mil
lions of dollars, that must be paid by the
masses of the people, are becoming more
frequent with every passing year. The
great wheat and coffee CORNERS were
of this class. The price of coffee was
doubled to the millions of consumers in
this country for several weeks, and who
has estimated the millions of dollars,
s'stand and deliver" thus taken from
them? How few people who are thus
robbed are taking any action to have it
stopped. The National Grange, at its
late session in Philadelphia, had this
subject under considerations and, with
the view of bringing it before the Subor-
dinate Oranges and the people, passed
the following resolutions:
Res0lred. That the National Grange,
Patrons of Husbandry, do hereby de-
nounce and condemn the practice of the
monopolists and spectators in the pur-
chase of what is known in commercial
circles as futures" whether of cotton,
corn, wheat, pork, or any other product
of the farm; that we, the said Grange,
believe it to be species of Ubiquitous
gambling; that it establishes the price
of the produce of the farmer without re-
gardng the necessity of the just and
equitable law of supply and demand.
ReSolued, That we recommend to the
Subordinate Oranges, and farmers gem
orally, to petition their respective Leg
islatures to enact such laws as will make
the said dealing in 'futul es" 4 INSIDE
meanor. and punished as other crimes.
When public sentiment in regard to
this subject is aroused as it should be,
law or laws will be enacted prohibiting
the dealing in Futures" and the natu-
raj law of supply and demand will gov
ern the market in the necessary COM
modities of life.
On this same subject the following is
an extract from a decision by Judge
Blanford, of the Supreme Court of
Georgia: at is manifest that the con-
sideration of the note sued on is for and
on account of dealings commonly called
futures Is such a transaction in the
nature of gaming? The transaction
termed futures is this: One person
says that l will sell you cotton at a GER
tain time in the future for a certain
price you agree to pay that price, know
ing that the person you dealt with has
no cotton to deliver at that time, but
with the understanding that when the
time arrives for delivery you are to pay
him the difference between the market
value of that cotton and the price you
agreed to pay, if cotton declines, and if
cotton advances he is TO pay you the
difference between what you promised
to give and the advanced market price.
If this is not speculation on chances,
wagering and betting between the
parties, then we are unable to under
stand the transaction. A betting on
game of faro, brag or poker cannot be
more hazardous, dangerous or uncertain.
Indeed, it may be said that these ami
mails are tame, gentle and submissive
compared to this monster. The law has
Gagged them and driven them to their
dens; they have been outlawed, while
this ferocious beast has been allowed to
stalk about in open midday, with gilded
signs and flaming advertisements to
lure the unhappy victim to its embrace
of death and destruction. What are
some of the consequences of these specu-
lations on futures? The faithful
chronclers of the day have informed us,
as growing directly out of these nefari-
Gus practices, that there have been bank
ruptcies, defalcations of public officers,
embellishments, forgeries, larcenies and
DEATH"
The grand results of the Grange are
being observed by thinking men and
women all over the country. Elizabeth
Boynton Harbert, in late issue of the
Chicago Inter Ocean, makes the follow
ing truthful remarks, and those living
in rural districts where there are bright,
liuinn Grannns have likewise observed